Dylan McGowan has warned Livingston that Hamilton are a much better side now than the one they faced earlier in the season – and he insists the future is bright at Accies.
The Lions were rampant in September with a dominant 3-0 win in West Lothian, but Accies have found some form with McGowan netting in last week’s 4-0 thumping of Airdrie, which came off the back of a 3-0 success over Morton the previous week.
It has been all change at Accies recently with new ownership, a new chairman in ex-Celtic general manager Jock Brown and a host of fresh faces in the playing squad.
And Aussie ace McGowan reckons it is all starting to come together for the New Douglas Park outfit.
He said: “There is a point to prove in this game. I think we are a better team now than the one that faced Livingston last time.
“We weren’t great in that one so it is up to us to show where we are now by improving on what we showed in the first round of fixtures. Hopefully we can get a performance.
“Last week is definitely something we can build on. That’s back-to-back wins for the first time this season, so we are getting better.
“We’ve said time and again that it is a new club. There’s new owners and new faces in the team.
“It was always going to take us a while to gel but I think when you look at performances like the Airdrie game, the future is bright for this club when we can play like we have been.”
McGowan is back in the side after breaking his leg in a Premier Sports Cup group stage clash against Stirling Albion in July and came on as a first half substitute for the injured Lee Kilday last week.
Now he hopes to hold on to his place.
He added: “Fingers crossed I can start this one. That is up to the gaffer. He has got good options and Lee was doing great before he unfortunately got injured. I hope it is not as bad as my injury at the start of the season.
“As long as we are all competing, it is healthy for the team. I wouldn’t say I’m 100 per cent but I am getting there. I’m just delighted to be back.”